Section: South Africa Today (South Africa)

The maneuvers involved combat swimmers and paratroopers as well as armored vehicles, amphibious boats, drones and advanced reconnaissance equipment. “The results of the first stage of the exercise prove that FSB special purpose units are well prepared for counterterrorist missions at maritime facilities of different types,” the FSB reported in a...

KIEV (Sputnik) — In 2014, Kiev launched a military operation against self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic and neighboring People’s Republic of Lugansk, when they refused to recognize the new Ukrainian government that came to power after a coup. “We have prepared for the exchange, I will tell the truth that we are ready to...

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Ukrainian government mulls severing rail passenger traffic with Russia starting in July, a Russian newspaper said Thursday citing a source close to authorities in Kiev. “Ukraine is preparing to halt rail passenger traffic with Russia starting around July 1,” the source told the Kommersant newspaper. The reason for this is...

KIEV (Sputnik) — According to Alexander Dolzhenkov, a lawmaker from the bloc, the decree violated the right for freedom of thought and speech, the right to express views and beliefs, and the right to use information that is guaranteed by the Ukrainian Constitution, the statement specified. “The Opposition Bloc faction and several independent...

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The FSB said Tuesday that the units would conduct large-scale counter-terrorism exercises in Crimea on May 24-29 and the drills would involve about 2,000 servicemen. It also said the two-stage drills would involve aircraft, sea vessels, armored vehicles, drones and advanced reconnaissance equipment. In March, the Russian...

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Trump’s proposed 2018 budget for the Department of Defense includes $150 million in assistance for Ukraine, according to a budget proposal released on Tuesday. “The FY [fiscal year] 2018 request includes $150.0 million for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative to support Ukraine under the ‘Building Partnership...

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Special purpose units of Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) will conduct large-scale counter-terrorism exercises in Crimea on May 24-29, the FSB announced. “A total of about 2,000 servicemen will take part in the exercise,” the FSB said in a statement. According to the statement, the two-stage drills will involve...

In Imvepi, northern Uganda, men, women and children queue for food and water of questionable drinkability in the intense heat of the north-east African sun, at a hastily constructed refugee camp. These unfortunate individuals have all fled — mostly on foot — across the South Sudan border, escaping ever-burgeoning bloodshed in their home country....

WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — Last week, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko approved the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to expand the list of sanctioned Russian individuals and legal entities. In particular, Ukraine has imposed sanctions on a number of Russian media, popular social networks like VKontakte and...

NEW YORK (Sputnik) — Ukrainian citizen Vadym Iermolovych was sentenced to 30 months in prison for his role in the largest known computer hacking and securities fraud scheme, US Department of Justice announced in a press release Monday. “A Ukrainian hacker was sentenced today to 30 months in prison for his role in an international scheme to hack...